Hello Stranger

{1}

The way he looked at me made me feel like my feet had suddenly lost their ability to stay on the ground, my eyes couldn't focus on anything but his eyes, and the way the light hit them just right, so that the they looked like green glass orbs that shone brilliantly on his face. My heart, for some unknown reason began to pound faster and faster as he smiled. My mind grew hazy when he smiled, his teeth may not have been perfectly white or straight, but they didn't need to be either, his lips were plump and pale pink, but just perfectly shaped to fit together. Who is this stranger?

But as all good things must come to an end, my dream was over. I sighed, stretching on my bed and blinking the sleep out of my eyes. My hand flopped around until I felt my alarm and my fingers clumsily pushed the buttons on it until the obnoxious chirping sound halted. Groaning, I flipped over in my bed to look at the time, my sheets coming with me and bunching around me. I sighed, 5:30, why do I always expect that to change. Every morning it's the same routine; wake up early, skip breakfast, run to work, work, skip lunch break for overtime pay, work some more, go home late in the evening, eat whatever is in my fridge for dinner, shower, and finally---sleep.

You see, the thing with routine is that; while for some it may keep their mind busy, for others, it traps their mind. You know how you do something so many times, you can do it with your eyes closed, handcuffed, and sitting at the bottom of the ocean? Yeah, that's how I feel about my routine. My mind wanders, yet it always comes back to the same place: him. That person in my dreams. I need to know who he is. For that brief moment all I feel is peace, happiness...security. Something I haven't felt in a long time.

Walking into the bathroom, I glanced up at my image in the mirror and made a very attractive face. Sarcasm. Yeah, im not the best comedian in the world. Routine time. Pee, before anything else pee because morning. Wash hands. Brush teeth. Look dreadfully at hair. Put face lotion on, because here in New York City we are known for cold wind in the winter. Put mascara on. Look dreadfully at hair. Glance down at brush. Accept fate and begin wrestling match: hair vs. brush. Cry, because ow. And thus completes my bathroom routine.

I hustle back into my bedroom and throw on my work uniform and then grab my bag and coat and slip out into the chilly air and then locking the door behind me and setting off for work. And now my running late for work routine begins. About a year ago I found a little corner gift shop that was hiring and would accept 18 year olds with no college education, lucky right? I have to be at work by 6:15 every morning and I leave my apartment at 6:00 every morning to make the 10 minute jog down the already crowded streets to the little shop.

As the sign for "Tina's Trinkets" comes into view, I breathe a sigh of relief and am about 10 steps from opening the door when a body knocks into mine, sending me sprawling on the sidewalk in a very flattering way. Like in the movies. Sarcasm again. Not a morning person. I internally laugh at my mental commentary when a hand reaches down to help me up. I take it and brush myself off when I get up "sorry, I wasn't paying attention to wear I was walking." I muttered to the person.

"No worries" the person said. He had a slow but gentle voice.

I looked up as I finished straightening myself out and nearly fell over again. It was him. The guy. The one from my dream. The eyes, the lips, the teeth, all the exact same. "I-" I cut myself off with a short cough and stuck out my hand. "I'm Ryan."

"Harry, sorry for knocking into you, but I've really got to go, bye!" he rushed and then continued on his way.

Harry. Just like that. He came and he went. But that was him. Harry. I liked the way it rolled off of my tongue so easily.

I shook my head and sprinted the few steps to the door before throwing it open and diving behind the front counter to put my bag and coat away.

"Ann, you were almost late." A voice scolded from behind me.

I internally groaned but put on a bright smile as I turned around "Mrs. Tina! I am so sorry, I was running and I accidentally knocked into someone and I swear this guy-"

I was cut off by Mrs. Tina clearing her throat loudly "Save the excuse, you are lucky enough to still be working here, so don't push the luck. I don't care if it was your prince charming come to sweep you off your feet out there; you are never to be late for work! Am I clear?" she ended her sentence by moderately yelling.

"Crystal" I replied with my head towards the floor.

"Good. Now there is a big event at the news station across the road today, apparently Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas will be there, so that means a lot of people will want souvenirs. The quarters need to be rolled, and the floor needs to be swept, and the..." Tina blabbed on as my head automatically nodded, but my mind was racing. Those eyes. Perfect. Colder and darker, but they were the same I was sure of it. "And then I need you to stand outside with the table and the stuff on sale, an—are you even listening to me girl?!?" Tina snapped.

"Yeah stand outside in the cold in my uniform which happens to be a tank-top and shorts, and sell shitty stuff that no one really wants to buy here because it's so cheap. Did I miss anything?" I screamed at her in my head. If only. But again, I smiled dumbly and said "Yes ma'am, manage the sale table in front of the store! And the other stuff too, I was listening." I ended with an innocent smile.

Tina huffed and stormed into the back of the store where her office was. Once her door slammed shut my shoulders sagged, the fake smile fell from my face, and I set to work on my chores.

               At about 7:00 I began setting the tables up outside and watched as the crowds began to gather around the news station across the street. Hundreds, if not more people were already there and I felt a twinge in my heart, longing for the freedom to do something like that, to enjoy myself. I sighed and sat down at the table after laying everything out and locking the wheels on the clothes racks that stood in front of the store's windows.

               By 8:00 I was hugging my arms around myself and shivering as I sold the occasional T-shirt or hat to someone walking down the sidewalk.

               At 9:00 I listened to what music I could hear drifting from across the road and humming along to the vaguely familiar tunes.

               When 10:00 rolled around, people began leaving the news building and I sold more cheaply made souvenirs.

               11:00, 12:00, 1:00, time passed and as always; I skipped my lunchbreak for the overtime pay and continued to sit outside in the 30 degree weather in a summer wardrobe. My mind couldn't stop replaying the scene from this morning, "Harry, sorry for knocking into you, but I've really got to go, bye!"  His voice was so clear, yet it folded together easily, each word carefully into the next, just like a puzzle. His lips. Chapped from the brisk air and biting wind of the morning. His hair, cropped short, but standing with confidence atop his head. His hand in mine, the warmth that radiated from his touch when he had stopped to help me up. I sighed and fiddled with the little keychains beside me on the table.
               5:00, 6:00, 9:00, 10:00, the late workers and early night partyers gave me my que to shuffle everything inside and give Tina the turnout of the register for the day. My limbs were basically frozen as I trekked to her office and knocked twice on the tall wooden door.

"Come in." I heard Tina's voice say, muffled by the heavy door. Routine. I walked over to her desk, put the cash down and turned to walk out. "Ann." She said and waited for me to turn back to face her before continuing, "I can't afford to keep you on, I'm sorry."